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Illustration by Ben Summerell-Youde/Fox SyndicationCar and Driver

2022 Toyota GR Corolla

What We Know So Far

Starting at

$30,000
est.

Overview

Riding high on the critical acclaim for its revived Supra sports car, Toyota is rumored to be working on a high-performance version of the Corolla tuned by the company's performance-vehicle skunkworks division, Gazoo Racing. Toyota has already unleashed a GR-tuned version of its Yaris subcompact car in global markets, which makes a GR Corolla that much more likely. Toyota's been on a crusade in recent years to add excitement to its lineup with sportier offerings and more stylish designs, so it would seem the right time to introduce a hot hatchback. We expect to see the GR Corolla in Toyota showrooms sometime in 2022.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

GR Corolla: $30,000 (est.)

We aren't sure what standard or optional features Toyota will offer on the GR Corolla, but we expect a starting price of around $30,000. We'll know more closer to the car's on-sale date, but one thing we're hoping to find on the spec sheet is a six-speed manual transmission.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Toyota has been mum on details but we'd think the 257-hp turbocharged three-cylinder from the GR Yaris—a hatchback that the Japanese automaker sells in global markets outside of the United States—would drop into the Corolla's engine bay just fine. A six-speed manual is usually the transmission of choice in a sport compact car, but an automatic gearbox could be available as well; front-wheel drive would keep the GR Corolla in line with rivals but a modified version of the GR Yaris's all-wheel drive system might also be a possibility. Current examples of the Corolla, even sporty SE and XSE models, don't offer particularly racy handling but upgrades to the suspension and chassis could make the GR Corolla a legitimate contender in the sport compact car segment.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

While the current Corolla is one of the more fuel-efficient options in its class, a high-performance GR variant might not be as impressive in this metric, even with a three-cylinder engine onboard. Still, it should still earn relatively decent EPA fuel economy ratings. We expect a highway rating of around 30 mpg, which falls right between the Veloster N (29 mpg highway) and the Golf GTI (32 mpg highway).

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

We expect the GR Corolla will share most of its cabin with the standard Corolla hatchback, which means good build quality, soft-touch materials, and plenty of features, but with racier trim and sport seats. Standard equipment is likely to include dual-zone automatic climate control, heated seats, and ambient interior lighting. While we expect the GR Corolla to be offered only as a hatchback, it's not entirely out of the question that Toyota could build a sedan version to go head-to-head with the Jetta GLI, the Subaru WRX, or the Civic Si sedan.

Infotainment and Connectivity

An 8.0-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be standard and should also include Amazon Alexa capability and an on-board Wi-Fi hotspot. Navigation should be an option; an eight-speaker JBL stereo is expected to be available as well to replace a standard six-speaker stereo.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety will weigh in on the GR Corolla's crashworthiness closer to the car's on-sale date. If the current Corolla hatchback is anything to go by, we're expecting good results. Toyota currently offers much of its driver-assistance technology as standard on most of its lineup and we expect that to continue to the GR Corolla. Key safety features include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection

Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist

Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Like other Toyotas, the GR Corolla will come with a fairly standard warranty package that's enhanced by a two-year complimentary scheduled maintenance plan. Honda doesn't offer such a plan on the Civic Si, but the Veloster N offers more value in the form of longer warranty periods as well as an extra year of free maintenance.

Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles

Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles

Complimentary maintenance is covered for 2 years or 25,000 miles

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